Explore Vietnam's economic opportunities amid the US-China rift. Learn about Germany's new left-wing party. Discover the frustrations and controversies surrounding VAR in football games.
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Quick takeaways
Vietnam benefits from its strategic positioning between the US and China, attracting foreign investment and trade.
Germany's new left-wing populist party appeals to disenchanted voters in the east, disrupting the political landscape.
Deep dives
Vietnam's Strategic Positioning Between China and America
Vietnam has strategically positioned itself between China and America, capitalizing on the tensions between the two countries. While it relies on China for trade relations, Vietnam also seeks to be defended against China's territorial ambitions. The country benefits from its close proximity to China and lower wage costs, attracting companies that want to diversify their production away from China, particularly to bypass trade barriers with the US. This favorable positioning has made Vietnam a hotspot for foreign investment and trade, creating significant growth potential.
The Rise of Left-Wing Populist Party in Germany
Germany is witnessing a shift away from the old political establishment, with the emergence of a new left-wing populist party. The party, formed by defectors from the mainstream leftist party, is appealing to a dissatisfied electorate, particularly in East Germany, where there is a fear of immigration and a sense of alienation from the ruling elite. The party's policies include demands for more social spending, job security, higher wages, and tighter controls on immigration. With growing discontent among voters, this new party has the potential to disrupt the political landscape in Germany.
The Impact of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in Football
The introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football has stirred controversy and dampened the joy of spontaneous goal celebrations. VAR was intended to correct egregious errors, but its implementation has led to lengthy reviews and disrupted the flow of the game. Fans, who once experienced immediate satisfaction from goal celebrations, now face uncertainty until the VAR decision is made. Additionally, the pursuit of objective perfection through VAR contradicts the subjective nature of football's laws, which should allow on-field officials to make real-time decisions. Suggestions have been made to limit VAR to overturning false negatives and bring back the spontaneity of goal celebrations.
The populous South-East Asian country is uniquely well-positioned to benefit from the deepening rift between America and China, so what’s stopping it? How a breakaway party on Germany’s far left is appealing to voters in the east (08:13). And, why VAR is frustrating football fans (16:11).
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